Review by Ross Maguire
“100,000 times” is the debut LP from Dublin solo artist Barry O’Brien under the name Seeping into cinemas. The album contains 10 tracks, each providing smooth and easy going tones that will bring you straight back to the roots of indie, and reminding you of that time you were driving in the sunshine with all windows down listening to smashing pumpkins’ “1979”.
The first track on the album “Red Words, Full of Promises” certainly carries that theme. The vocals boast a very much Billy Corgan style tone, and I say boast because, well, who would complain about that? And Seeping Into Cinemas nails it completely on this first track. After the intro, the guitar comes in with some bright chords and the drums build up to a country style rhythm played on the snare backing the soft and upbeat verses. The chorus’ are lovely to listen to, with Barry’s soothing voice singing the lyrics “red words/full of promises” and an ascending chords progression. Influence pops up again in the outro with a guitar hook very much similar to the Pumpkins song “Today”.
A stand out on the Album for me was the second track “Shoot out”, which is to be the first single released from the album. The song wastes no time and goes straight into vocals, guitars and drums carrying that smooth, chilled out summery mood that makes you feel like you’re lying in a field sinking a few cans in the sun with your best mates. Even still, I can’t help but think I’ve already felt this when I first discovered Pavement or The Stone Roses, or again, Smashing Pumpkins. Nevertheless I have no doubt that it will be a prominent tune in the playlist of Ireland’s top radio stations – when they decide to play decent music that is.
I listened through the album and found it very impressive, but a bit too much influence was on show. For one guy these ten tracks show a lot of talent, but also a lot of potential in that I wanted to find something a little different after I reached the fourth track. I did when I got to track six, which is titled “555”. The song shift’s to a melancholy mood with the lyrics “was it all pretend/ could you just not bear a happy end”. The timing is slow and the chords are soft and even though this song is sad it made me happy to find that Seeping into Cinemas are not just a one trick pony.
The last track “Still frame on a sunny Monday” shows Seeping into Cinemas composing talents, with a light and delicate end to the album. The song contains some Hawaiian – like guitar licks and soft melodica/key flute drones, while images of palm trees in silhouettes and a red horizon on a faraway beach spring to mind. Again I was glad to find another side to Seeping into Cinemas music.
All in all I would say this is a very good first release. Even though most of the tunes definitely appear to be based on early Pumpkins/Stone Roses it’s fair to say that maybe there isn’t enough of that around anymore? And while It may have been done in the past, Seeping into Cinemas without doubt Succeed in bringing it to the present, and adding a bit more to the mix as well.
The album will be released via CD and download on June 17th 2011. Prior to the album SHOOT OUT the first single will be available from May 20th.